Thibault out with concussion effects

Goalie to miss at least 1 week

March 21, 2003|By Bob Foltman, Tribune staff reporter.

Goaltender Jocelyn Thibault is suffering from postconcussion syndrome and will be lost to the Blackhawks for at least a week.

Thibault sustained a mild concussion March 9 against Boston. He has suffered symptoms of that concussion off and on since then and reported them again after Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Thibault was not at a light practice session Thursday and will rest for the next week before he is re-evaluated.

Hawks trainer Mike Gapski said no problems were discovered when Thibault was examined the day after the injury.

But Sutter said Thibault has had headaches or dizziness at times between games, only to feel fine the next day.

"There were a couple days I wasn't going to play him, but he felt good enough to play," Sutter said. "He played pretty darn well."

Thibault has played in every game since the Boston game, winning two out of three games on the Hawks' recent West Coast trip and shutting out Phoenix.

If he is free from headaches, dizziness or any other concussion symptoms when he is re-evaluated next week, he will be allowed to begin some light exercise and be evaluated again.

The Hawks have nine games left in the season. The earliest he would be ready to play would be March 30, against Edmonton. It's possible that Thibault could be out for the rest of the season.

Concussions are among the most mysterious injuries in the NHL. Some players recover quickly, others take much longer. Los Angeles forward Adam Deadmarsh has been out months recovering from a concussion.

The Hawks called Craig Andersson up from Norfolk to fill in for Thibault. This is the second call-up for Andersson, who has played four periods this season for the Hawks.

Sutter said Andersson will see some action. That will likely come this weekend when the Hawks play at Colorado on Saturday and home Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.